Gucci, Prada, Cuccinelli, Armani, and Ferragamo. Naturally, these are among popular fashion brands that come to mind when you think of ‘luxury, elegance, and class’. No doubt about that!
But what’s remarkable about this list is that all of these ‘big dogs’ in the global fashion industry are Italian brands, thus most likely all carry the ‘Made in Italy’ tag. And even more remarkable is the fact that high-fashion brands in the U.K., U.S., and other parts of the world rely on the excellent craftsmanship and creativity of Italian factories.
Italian fashion is known for quality
Made in Italy brands have stamped their feet on the sands of time as an epitome of superior quality.
It is a no-brainer that Italy is easily the biggest fashion market in Europe and the world over.
And for good reasons too! The Italian fashion market has successfully proved over and again that they know just how to strike the right balance between classical elegance and modern creativity.
Even with the Asian market posing a strong threat to the Italian market, thanks to its cheap manufacturing, Italy has managed to maintain [and even improved upon] its reputation as a brand of luxury and class. This gives rise to some recurring questions like:
- Why is Made in Italy brands perceived with a different level of prestige and tagged superior to other brands?
- Are Made in Italy brands really superior or is this just a myth?
Quick answer…
Truth is, Italy built this reputation a long long time ago. This is not an honorary degree conferred on the tag ‘Made in Italy.’ Instead, it is a reputation borne out of a long history of fine craftsmanship and excellent merge of craft and technology.
Old Italy invested time and resources into craftsmanship. Birthing the foundation of the gains that modern Italy is enjoying today.
So, no, it is not a Myth! Items made in Italy are highly desired by brands, celebrities, others around the world. And are generally regarded as top-notch quality.
For a more detailed insight, join me as we uncover several factors that contributed to this premium-quality perception of items made in Italy.
Italy’s Rich Fashion History
Italy’s rich fashion history is the first and most important influence on the modern fashion industry. Dating back to the 11th century, Italy was widely known for the production of ornaments, textiles, robes, dresses, fabrics, jewelry, and shoes.
This trend became even more popular during the Renaissance. Thanks to the mainstream acceptance of art, music and the influence of the Medicis. The Medici family were the elites at the time. They invested quite a fortune in Italian fashion, birthing the wave of Italian fashion being linked with class and wealth. With their elegant look and high representation of Italian fashion, it didn’t take long for the trend to spread far and wild like wildfire.
Fortunately, Italy is geographically blessed, being positioned between the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps. This made it easy to quickly transport goods Made in Italy to other parts of Europe and abroad. Thus, further spreading the Italian fashion culture around the world. In no time, people started looking up to Italy for everything quality and class.
Fashion is a Culture Over Here
Looking back at history, you can outrightly tell that fashion is engraved in the Italian culture. The Italians are unarguably fashion freaks. They pay so much attention to what they wear and how they look.
Well, you cannot blame them. They grew up being surrounded by works of art. From birth, they were confronted with beautiful designs and creativity.
This is why there is no shortcut with the Italians. They would never sacrifice quality for shortcuts. It is always 100% or nothing. This culture has built-in a general sense of perfection that runs across the manufacturing industry to date.
Thanks to Hollywood
Lastly, we cannot ignore the passive role that Hollywood played in Italian fashion. Although the Italians already made a mark on the sand of times through their excellent craftsmanship, unwavering passion, and rich heritage, it is important to acknowledge the role Hollywood played in the 21st-century mainstream perception of Made in Italy products.
Being a favored location for filming, Hollywood stars and producers frequently traveled to Italy for movie production. Having encountered and tasted the rich fashion culture over there, it took no time for this culture of class to start featuring in Hollywood. This further cemented Italy’s reputation as a brand of quality and elegance.
Italy is Home to the Best Fashion Schools
As home to the biggest fashion brands in the world, it should come as no surprise that Italy is also home to the best fashion schools. Italy fashion schools have become recurring names in the statistics for World’s Best Fashion Schools and Europe’s Best Fashion Schools.
Students are spoiled with choices and fashion events every year. They get first-hand knowledge of true craftsmanship and peerless creativity. In addition to these perks, students also stand a chance to tap into the increasing work opportunities littering the Italian fashion market. There are also great opportunities for students who decide to employ their expertise abroad as their experience and skills acquired in Italy are highly sought-after around the world.
Here are the top 5 fashion schools in Italy, according to 2020 statistics:
- Istituto Europeo di Design, Milan
- Istituto Marangoni International, Milan
- Polimoda, Florence
- Accademia Costume e Moda, Rome
- Koefia Academy, Rome
Takeaway!
Indeed, the Made in Italy tag represents everything elegance and quality. It was born through a perfect mix of rich heritage, unwavering passion for perfection, and excellent craftsmanship. This mixture clearly sets them apart from every other brand on the planet.
This is why many designers, celebrities, and fashionistas turn to Italy for their clothing, footwear, and accessories.
Thanks to the contributing factors analyzed above, Italian fashion now stands out from the global crowd. And it is doing everything possible to maintain this reputation. Way to go!
